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On Monday, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) reached a milestone by marking 250 million light rail trips since the agency launched service in 1996.

President/Executive Director Gary Thomas was on hand early Monday morning to welcome and thank a Dallas-Forth Worth-area man as the 250 millionth rider. He has been using the light-rail system for his daily commute to work for the past 10 years.

DART began light-rail operations on June 14, 1996, when it opened the first 11 miles of a 20-mile starter system. Through the years, DART has expanded the system to operate what is now the longest electric light-rail service in the United States, DART officials said in a prepared statement.

The agency expects to reach another milestone on July 30, when it opens a five-mile section of the Orange Line from Bachman Station in northwest Dallas to Irving, Texas. A second section of the line, as well as a five-mile extension of DART’s Blue Line from Garland to Rowlett, will open Dec. 2.

DART will have about 90 miles in operation when it completes the Orange Line in 2014, with a station at Terminal A at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.